Pentachlorophenol is a manufactured chemical not naturally occurring in the environment. It is a colorless crystal in its pure form although it is often contaminated with other toxic organic chemicals such as chlorinated phenols, dioxins, and dibenzofurans. Historically, Pentachlorophenol was used as a biocide and wood preservative and was one of the most heavily used pesticides in the United States. Today, only certified applicators are permitted to purchase and use pentachlorophenol. It’s still used as a wood preservative for power line poles, railroad ties, fence posts, and cross arms but it’s no longer used in wood preserving solutions or insecticides or herbicides that can be purchased for home or garden use.

Pentachlorophenol is easily absorbed by the body following oral or inhalation exposure and is quickly distributed throughout the body. 

How You Are Exposed

• Breathing contaminated air or touching treated lumber while working at wood-treatment facilities, lumber mills, or construction sites.
• Breathing contaminated air near hazardous waste sites or accidental spill sites.
• Coming into contact with contaminated soil at waste sites or landfills.
• Drinking contaminated water near waste sites, sites of accidental spills, and work sites.
• Ingesting contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.

How Can Pentachlorophenol Affect Your Health?

Most human PCP exposure comes from PCP placed in the environment in the past and released from treated wood and soil. Toxic effects of acute and subchronic occupational inhalation exposures to pentachlorophenol may include tachycardia, jaundice, and other hemotologic alterations. Human fatalities have also been reported.

Pentachlorophenol is moderately toxic when eaten, breathed, or absorbed through the skin. High acute exposure to PCP can cause fever, profuse sweating, dehydration, loss of appetite, nausea, and neurological effects such as tremors, uncoordinated movement, leg pain, and coma. (info from website: http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/
factsPentachlorophenol.dv.html)

It is unclear whether exposure of the developing fetus to pentachlorophenol will result in birth defects or other developmental effects in people, but laboratory animals exposed to high levels during development experience health effects including low body weight, decreased growth and skeletal problems. (info from website: http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/
factsPentachlorophenol.dv.html)